A holiday off the beaten track to the scenic Mukteshwar near Nainital.

I have always been fond of traveling to lesser known, offbeat places, places away from crowds and in the midst of nature. It’s never been too difficult to plan weekend getaways from Delhi nowadays as you have a long list of options towards any direction but you have to be mindful about which season you are traveling in. Summer Holidays is obviously all for the hills, cool, scenic and relaxing. And trust me, don’t follow the online reviews blindly, they can be really misleading at times. This one particular trip that I went on seemed to be a tough one because I was travelling with four friends and getting everybody on the same page, setting and meeting every specific expectation, ensuring nobody has much to complain about, kept me nervous initially. I had read about this nature retreat, Mountain Trail, at a hill station called Mukteshwar - 45 Kms from The Lake Town of Nainital. As the legend goes Lord Shiva gave Mukti (eternal freedom) to a vicious demon who was troubling the poor village folk of Mukteshwar and hence the name - Mukteshwar. Sounds pretty religious but you’d be surprised how much fun this sleepy little hill hamlet has on offer and we loved every bit of it. Not only for adventure and offbeat seekers like myself but most types of traveler. This is the first time I experienced a holiday destination covering such a wide bandwidth. We went trekking, did some rappelling at the Chauli Ki Jaali Cliff, enjoyed a stream picnic, a night jungle walk and every evening sat by our own bon-fire with our guitars, plural mind you, we were all, once upon a time, a great band. Happy to be together again. The resort manager, just a young local hillbilly, always smiling, actually offered us a long list of activities that we could enjoy like bird watching etc. but we only had 2 clear days so there’s only so much we could have done as the primary aim was to chillax. We were actually surprised with ourselves on how much we had packed into our three nights but that credit goes to the excellent team at The Mountain Trail Resort. If you’re looking at a nature friendly place, this is it but if you’re looking for star luxuries please consider Nainital or even Bhimtal as you have some high end hotels there. I was deliberating to stay away from TV, Mobiles and Luxuries, could manage to evade two but mobiles worked here 3G+ and my friends were delighted to discover that. I of course wasn’t happy about it at all. The resort is spread out in a fruit orchard facing the Himalayan Range. It has spectacular valley views which we enjoyed the most while having breakfast in their restaurant lawn. Two of my friends had experienced an orchard laden with fruits, for the first time. I mean plucking them right off the trees, with due permission of course and biting into the juiciest, most delicious peaches and plums ever…. It was something!

Before I had formally booked our holiday I had the pleasure of speaking with the owner of the Resort - Mr. Mayank Gupta, who seemed extremely professional along with exuding a lot of passion and honesty. His love for the hills, his in-depth knowledge about the region and the activities, convinced me enough but there was still a little bit of nervousness realizing I was traveling with a lawyer, an architect, a pilot and a dentist. Now that’s as diverse as it could get and surely professional profiles don’t really matter but I had known them since school and that was enough reason for me to be worried for somebody who’s organizing the trip.

Shatabdi from Delhi, a 6am departure from the New Delhi Railway Station, 11:45am- 12Noon arrival at one of the cutest, cleanest railway stations ever, Kathgodam. We were told this station was an award winner and we had no reason to doubt that. Once we got out of the station we spotted a slightly stressed out, middle aged man holding a placard with our name on it. When we waived at him suddenly a wide smile appeared with the words from his mouth which put a smile back on our faces “Mountain Trail” just what we wanted to hear. Here we go, driving up the hill, as the ascend starts from Kathgodam itself with the beautiful river Gola flowing in the opposite direction. We made friends with Neema, our very talkative but wonderful driver. Once again a big Thank You! To the Mountain Trail team for organizing a great car and driver which honestly makes a huge difference to the overall experience. I for one never save money on transportation, it’s always proven to be ‘penny wise pound foolish’. Neema was requested to suggest all experiences which were local and it largely meant local food. So we took a chai break, sorry, a pahadi chai break which turned out to be very tasty but very sweet, even after our humble request for less sugar. I guess even the water in the hills is sweet so maybe it really can’t be helped. The sweet Pahadi Tea turned out to be a life saver afterwards as the spicey Aloo ka Gutkas (potato chunks) and the Rai ka Raita (Curd flavoured with mustard seeds, some red chilly powder and floating graded Radish) opened each blocked vein in our body, it was weirdly hot (spicy hot). It was quite an experience and we thought we could never have it again but we did and we enjoyed it more the second time and it felt less spicy. The drive up was wow. Passed by the gorgeous    lake, dense forests, hill streams, waterfalls (small ones but pretty) and the amazing landscapes towards the valleys bowled us over. Every sense of tiredness had escaped us and we were re-energized and ready to take on the next three days which we were so looking forward to, away from the stressful city lives.

We landed at the Mountain Trail Resort in Mukteshwar in about two and half hours. I checked my altimeter which was showing off a 7430 ft ASL ….Nice. The entrance didn’t really excite us much but once we entered it the frame opened up into a lush green fruit orchard and we could spot some red roofs at a distance from the reception, camouflaged by trees, we were wondering if these spread out huts, is where we’d be staying and yes, they were. We were sent right on top to the last three and we had booked three as two of us wanted privacy.

Spacious rooms with a typical hill cottage feel, wooden ceilings, surrounded by flowers and fruit trees, a perfectly sized glass sit-out which could seat four (there’s one outside every room), en-suite baths….Wallah..this was just the kind of place we were looking for. All of us seemed to be so happy and more or less said in sync – “this is going to be fun”. Loved the grass patches outside all rooms where we could already imagine our chairs sprawled out but what we couldn’t imagine was that right outside our rooms we would have a bon-fire and it will be exclusively for us. Man, we were in heaven. This truly was an escape from the routine, the mundane…. no TV sets in the rooms, beautiful birds and butterflies all around, scenic views. Sorted!

The following three nights filled our holiday with memorable experiences which we would cherish for life. The highlights were – The bonfire evenings, the stream picnic, views from the Chauli Ki jalli Cliff, the night jungle walk and the delectable food….Oh and the mind blowing chocolates and brownies that are hand made at the resort. Wondering how I forgot to mention about these earlier. I have, in my entire traveling life and I’ve really traveled, never tasted chocolates that good.

 I even doubted their claim of hand making them at the resort itself, I mean that’s how good they were, but then I was proven wrong when I was taken to the resort’s chocolate kitchen by the very kind Mr. Gupta (Owner) who was staying at the resort with his wife and she, Mrs Gupta, is the actual Queen behind these divine delights. When at Mukteshwar do not and I repeat, do not miss these chocolates at The Choco-House Chocolate Shop. Another café you should definitely try is Chaandi Maati for it’s local Kumaon food, Awesome. So all in all Mukteshwar is a great hill station for a weekend escape from Delhi. It’s at a good height so the weather and views are great too. Loved it.

Written By 

Dipika  Sinha 

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Sri Lanka Tour

Pristine Beaches, Lowland Forest, Buddhist Monasteries, and the fragrance of Coconut oozing from all the directions are some of the few things that immediately leaps to mind when we think of Srilanka. Lying in the Indian Ocean and sharing its maritime border with India, Srilanka is the tropical country of Asia which is enriched with verdant hills and scenic coast. The outpouring beauty of this island country seems to cast a magical spell on every traveler who intent to unearth its dazzling chronicles.  Pinnawala is one such village that has received global admiration for housing Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Located near Wilpattu National Park, it is a unique wildlife sanctuary established with the sole purpose of nurturing and feeding orphaned baby elephants found in the wild. An hour drive from Pinnawala will bring you to one of Asia's largest and best- preserved cave temple complexes known by the name of Dambulla Cave Temple. Dating back to the 1st Century BCE, the stunning statues and paintings of Lord Buddha conjure up Srilanka's significant evocative religious art form. 

Sigiriya is yet another destination of Srilanka known for holding one of the most valuable monuments in the globe. The exquisite fortress architecture displayed on the Sigiriya rock plateau, formed from magma of an extinct volcano seems to astound the visitors through its unprecedented harmony with nature and Human imagination. Earlier the rock plateau served as a monastery later it was converted into a royal palace surrounded by the robust network of fortification, canals, and alleys.

Nestled at an elevation of 3, 415 feet, Ella is a mountain town lying in the Central Highland of Sri Lanka. There are several exciting hiking trails one can explore. Some will take you to the unsullied waterfalls, while others will take you to the ancient rock temple or beautiful tea plantation estate, however, there is one particular hike that paves the way to the mystical Rannava Cave. It lies on the foundation of a cliff and is attached with historical values. Legends have it that the cave was used by King Ravana to hide princess Sita after abducting her from Panchvati.

Spreading in the expanse of dense thickets, grasslands, and lagoons, Yala is one of Sri Lanka's largest and most popular national parks harboring an array of birds and animals- the park is recognized worldwide for carrying the highest population of Leopards on this planet. While crisscrossing the jungle there will be many chances when you will come across this endangered species of Srilankan Elephants who risen significantly in Yala National Park.

Reflecting all the colors and culture that makes this island country, Colombo is a brilliant tourist hub of Sri Lanka. The place has a diverse variety of architecture spanning from different eras, depicting different styles of architecture. Along the shady boulevards, the legacies of colonial Colombo's garden are still intact. Colombo also offers a multitude of global cuisines, thanks to a history of colonialism and a large expat population. There are so many places of interest to come into close contact with such as museums, architectural wonders, museums and many more. It is also rich in cultural heritage and is loaded with historical charm as well. The history of the city dates back to more than 2,000 years ago. So, paying a visit to Colombo proves to be beneficial for history buffs. It is the largest of SriLankan cities and is the starting point for your tour to Sri Lanka.

The Magic of Indian Monsoon

The monsoon clouds surging all over India is not only a blessing in disguise for the farmers but also a window of opportunity for those who want to tap into the cryptic world of winged species. Across the globe, India is identified as the largest democratic country associated with the oldest civilization, youngest population, vibrant culture and delectable cuisine. With so much going on in the peripheral of the country only a few intrigued eyes could witness the beauty of fluttering wings in the virgin forests and untamed terrains of the country.

Forty kilometers away from the spiritual city of Ajmer lies the huge grasslands of Sonkhaliya. For a layman, the place is yet another local village which specializes in producing Moong Daal (a kind of lentil) however for a birdwatcher, the region is a holy grail to sight the critically endangered Lesser Florican. Once upon a time, the population of these bustards swelled across Asian but today they are confined in the scattered pockets of Western and Central India and Sonkhaliya is one such space. Being extremely shy, these birds shield themselves in the tall blades of grass to remain hidden from the people's attention except in the monsoon when these birds jump from the grassland with a unique call and flapping wings to attract their better halves.

Birdwatchers and photographers come all the way to India just to marvel at the captivating spectacles like these. Besides carrying the population of Lesser Florican the patches of dense clumps have also become a humble abode for the quail family including Rain Quail, and Rock Bush Quail.

Mounting up in the hills of Himalayas will unlock the gateway to the glorious kingdom of Kashmir and Ladakh. If one is an embodiment of tranquility and serenity the other is a passage to the land of high passes, rugged terrains, and pristine rivers. As you start exploring the unsullied landscape and virgin forest you might end up witnessing the mystical lives of Himalayan birds untouched till date.

Being part of the finch family Orange Bullfinch can be frequently sighted soaring high in the coniferous forests of Kashmir. The bird has ended up getting in the lifer's list of many birdwatchers due to its striking features and rarity to find them in other parts of the world. Birding in Kashmir will be an incomplete venture if one's eyes don't lay upon Kashmir Nuthatch and Kashmir Nutcracker. Generally coming out in the season of monsoon, these endemic species have managed to permeate parts of the valley with their uncommon beauty and unique call. The rugged terrain and lofty mountains of Ladakh have gained worldwide popularity for preserving the ancient and mystical monasteries reverberating with the Buddhist Hymes.

Covered with deep blue sky and unsullied landscape, the land of high passes has always cast a magical spell on travelers through its magnificent beauty, humble people and tranquil surroundings. But in the eyes of birdwatchers and wildlife photographers, the place has been a holy grail to view the beautiful birding colonies.

Leh and Tso Kar are the two important regions where one can get prolific sights of Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Chukar Partridge, Himalayan Griffon, Common Kestrel, Upland Buzzard, Common Hoopoe, Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, Eurasian Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, Little Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Black-necked Crane etc.

It is only in the monsoon one get to see the witness the prolific display of Lesser Florican and the great fleet of Bearded Vulture if the coniferous forests of Kashmir are blessed by the presence of the rarest Large-spotted nutcracker the glacial lakes of Ladakh are clouded by migratory birds coming from Siberia and Europe.

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Andaman and South India Birding and Wildlife Tour

Lush green hills, strings of coconut and palm trees, spicy cuisine, ancient temples, turquoise beaches, men wearing white lungis, women adorned with jasmine flowers are some of the few things that engulfs the mind when one thinks of South India. However, my recent South India Tour made me tap into the world unsullied world of birds and mammals. Carrying my new Nikon 7200 on my lap with a dream of spotting and photographing many unique winged species, I moved towards my first destination the Andaman.

The archipelago of 300 islands not only recounts the great sacrifices of our freedom fighters, it is also one of the few places left on this planet where the mystical heritage of tribe is still thriving and of course the adventure of water sports that has attracted tourists from all parts of the world just to indulge in Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Game Fishing, etc. I chose to stay in Chidiya Tapu - the isle of birds nestled in the dense thickets and uncrowded beaches of the south. My day would begin with the gleeful sounds of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters which could be easily sighted in front of my forest facing windows of Wild Grass Resort. It was always an indication to take out the camera and follow the small cues left by these beautiful winged species. Sometimes these unforeseen trails would open the doorway to a virgin jungle and sometimes it would take me to the coasts of wide and untouched beaches.

 During my two days stay over here I seized the opportunity to photograph some of the rarest and endemic species in the precinct including Andaman Pigeon, Andaman Teal, Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Scops Owl, Crested Serpent Eagle, Brown Shrike, Collared Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, and Andaman Bulbul. After having my last drink under the captivating sunset of Chidiya Tapu. I packed to my bags for the next leg of the journey that concentrates on the verdant hills and forest reserve of Western Ghats. I took off from Port Blair and landed in the glorious kingdom of Mysore.

The place is dotted with palatial edifices each of which beautiful reflects the laudable past of South India. However, as birding and wildlife was my area of interest I headed start away to Nagarhole National Park. Stretching from the foothills of Western Ghats to Brahamagir Hills, the dense thickets of the park have a become a dwelling place for many gorgeous species. During my morning safari, I sighted the train of elephants who were moving down south. The entire region was reverberating with the sounds of Blue-winged parakeet and White-bellied treepie.

As I moved a little further I was crossed by Russel's wiper to the other side of the forest, I wanted to trail his path but my attention was diverted by the alarming calls of gaurs who were some meters away from my current position. I immediately sensed the presence of some predator nearby, I was expecting a tiger or a leopard to come of the vast grassland but I was flabbergasted by the presence of a Black Panther who was leisurely sitting up in the tree. His debonaire appearance fixated my eyes for a while before the driver moved the car to another direction.

That night I was sitting on my armchair going through all photos of birds and mammals taken during the trip. Next day I headed towards Mudumalai National Park. Flanked between Karnataka and Kerala, the park is one of the significant elephant corridors of India. While crossing path some of the spectacular birds including Black and Orange Flycatcher, Malabar Tragopan, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Painted Spurfowl, Streaked-throated Woodpecker, and  Chestnut-headed Bee Eater, I became a spectator to one of nature's most amusing acts.

As I was photographing the Giant Malabar Squirrel my eyes caught the attention of the Great Serpent Eagle crossing swords with a snake the sight was so startling that I couldn't take off my eyes to capture this grand moment in my camera. Next day I headed towards Kerala- God's own country, but for me, the place will always remain an incubator for budding ornithologists and birders who wish to explore its diverse avifauna.

My thrilling journey in Thattekad National Park kickstarted with a magnificent sight of two Indian Pittas foraging in the region oblivious to my presence followed by the appearance of the beautiful Orange-headed Thrush, Ceylon Frogmouth, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Mountain Hawk Eagle, White-rumped spinetail, Red Spurfowl, Brown-cheeked fulvetta, Brown-backed Needletail, and Dark-fronted babbler. It is extremely commendable to see how the diverse variety of birds species is harboring in a 25.16 km² area. Perhaps that's why Salim Ali always describe this sanctuary as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India.

Laden with wonderful photos and lasting memories my wilderness South India Tour came to an amazing end.

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Big Cat Tour in India

What is it about the big cats that have attracted even the least interested people in the wild?

Is it their regal walk, discreet lifestyle, carrying the most savaged attack or their loud thunderous roar sending tremors in the forest?

It all started in the summers of 89 when I accompanied my father(the then delegate of WHO) in the untamed land of Africa. The six nights journey made us see the magnificent herds of Cape Buffalo, Asian Elephant, Hippos, Zebras, Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Springbok but it was the valor of one lioness protecting her tiny tot from the vicious strike by the clan Hyenas that formed a lasting memory in mind. Perhaps my confrontation with the felines was so intense it sowed the seed of my dream of sighting all big cats living on this planet, starting from my home country India which is also a paradise for feline lovers.

My endeavor brought me to Ladakh. For the world, it will remain as the land of high passes but for me, it will always be the turf of Snow Leopards. My encounter with this mythical being was very dramatic. During my trials in the rugged terrains of Hemis National Park, I chanced upon sighting some of the rarest, robust and cutest species blissfully living in the most challenging surrounding including Bearded Vulture, Bharal, Piku, Pallas's cat, Argali, Urial but without the slightest glimpse of Snow Leopard. It was on the last day when all my hopes had conceded defeat and about to check out from my tent I noticed a tussle erupted in the opposite mountain after zooming in my camera I saw a male Snow Leopard facing a tough fight from the Ibex. Something strange to my sight. Never had I ever saw a wild cat being submissive and domineering at the same time. After falling down repeatedly from the strong kicks of Ibex the determined cat finally succeeded to scuffle his prey. Forever etching this very moment in my heart I advanced towards the home of another exalted cat 'The Bengal Tiger'.

The dry deciduous forest of Ranthambore recounts the heroic stories of many tigers and has always remained the paradise for those who wished to photograph the majestic Bengal Tigers in all their glory. During my three wildlife safaris, I happened to spot progeny of the Tigress Queen of Ranthambore, Machali. The grand entry of Arrowhead (Machali Junior) is still vivid in my mind when she crossed our safari jeep with a valiant gait as if she is our majesty and we are on her service. Her ever glinting which continued contacting our eyes without losing the luster was a magnificent sight to behold.

From Ranthambore, I headed towards Jhalana National Park, surrounded by the great palatial edifices of Jaipur, the park takes one takes you inside the secret world of Leopards. Not much popular amongst the Indians, the place was recommended by one of my wildlifer friends when he came to know about my Big Cat tour in India. On arrival in the city of Jaipur, I checked into my hotel for some relaxation before kickstarting my first leopard safari in the evening. Leopards are the silent predators and to sight them in the dense thickets of the forest one must possess a razor-sharp eye and mindful to every single moment. The company of an experienced naturalist Ashok Panika who was in the field of leopard conservation gave me assurance to track down at least one leopard in the evening safari. The dusk was rising but was not able to track down a single leopard, perhaps some things are not designed to happen as we want and therefore retired for the day. Nevertheless, we again went for the jeep safari next morning, as Mr. Pandit was explaining to me about the unusual acts of leopards we spotted a kill hanging on the tree we immediately realized the presence of this silent predator nearby. After waiting for 30 minutes as we planned to move ahead we saw spotted tail moving inside the tall blades of grasslands and voila! there he was sitting a few meters away from us keeping a watchful eye on our every action. My mind was echoing with the famous quote of "They are always watching you when you are in their region" so rightly said.

Gir National Park was my last destination on this great journey. Filled with great pride I crisscrossed the empire of 'The King of Jungle' who was once on the path of extinction before the stakeholders and local villagers put their best foot forward to surge the population of Asiatic Lions who faced persecution from all across the world. While penetrating the forest I chanced upon a pride of 1 male lion, 4 female lions along with their tiny tots. Lions share strong bondage with their family something very not seen in other big cats. With this, my dream journey came to a wonderful end in India. From Snow Leopards to Bengal Tigers, Asian Leopards and Asiatic Lion, I got the opportunity to know and discover their true nature while viewing them from close quarters.

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Corbett National Park

One fine day when my entire college was wrapped in the mist of December, my friend & I

escaped thechilly campus to undertake an adventurous journey in Corbett. Our love for travel and photography has always prompted us to explore the unspoilt picturesque locations.

This time we headed towards the Corbett National Park, a wildlife sanctuary that has the

privilege of being Asia's oldest and India's largest national park. Being not far away from Roorkee ittook us approximately three to four hours to reach the destination. After

having a sumptuous lunch at our resort we headed towards our first jungle safari of the day.

Along with the driver and the wildlife photographer we were all set to unfold the Jhirna zone of the park. The naturalist told us that a significant population of tigers resides in this part of the national park making us both thrilled and excited. Unlike the dry deciduous forest of Kanha National Park, the forest of Corbett was quite dense and moist in nature, therefore, one has to have a razor sharp eyes to scan the surroundings. En route I couldn't avoid noticing the rich and diverse avifauna of the park. Birds like Green bee-eaters, Indian Rollers, various species of woodpeckers could be easily sighted in here. I was busy photographing them when suddenly our naturalist stopped the car and pointed towards the bushes on the other side of the waterholes. We saw a mother and a baby sloth bear moving towards the large waterholes

Noticing our proximity to them the mother sloth bear started sending signals of vacating the area.Our naturalist explained to us that an offspring is the most vulnerable creature in this savaged world of forest and to protect its vulnerability a mother transforms into the most fierce being one could come across.. A few distance away my eyes met the Golden Jackal, a wolf-like canine who was lazily laying down under one of the sal trees. With the twilight approaching, we returned back to our resort. Next day we went for an early morning safari in the Bijrani zone, another core zone of Corbett rarely opened for the tourists. For us, mornings have been always the best time to go for safaris and

Corbett proved to be no different from others.

We began spotting Sambar deer and Pallas's fish eagle. At one point our jeep was stopped by a train of Asian Elephants who were crossing the road. Our naturalist was trying to show us the most sought after Slaty-backed forktail who was sitting at the distance suddenly a leopard appeared from nearby and vanished in the bushes. The moment was so swift that we could only sight his spotted tail, nevertheless, we continued our journey. The culmination of the tour was when we saw the tiger with a kill.

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Birding in Bhutan

 Birding is not just a hobby, it is an art to look deep into nature and unlock the doorway to beauty and wild. Living in a time where the rapid industrialization is taking a toll on the entire planet there are only a handful of areas left keeping nature in its purest form and Bhutan is of them. Laden with majestic mountains, lush green forest, meandering rivers, and cascading streams, Bhutan is no ordinary place. It is an Himalayan Kingdom deeply rooted in nature and Buddhist culture. Although the country is attracting travel buffs from all corners for its mystical traditions and bewitching landscape. The nation has also become a talking point amongst the birdwatchers and ornithologists for sheltering a unique birdlife that has supposedly lost grounds in many parts of the world.

The gleaming white rocks spread across the Paro river have become the holy grail for the charming Ibisbill, bestowed with the title of the ‘Most Wanted Bird’ for being extremely difficult to sight. These birds are allotted with huge dwelling grounds, however, only the fortunate ones could get the insight of the secret lives of these mysterious birds. Growing along the foothills, the warm and subtropical broadleaved forest has become a humble abode for the vulnerable Rufous-throated Hornbill. 

Thriving on mature fruit trees, these species can be easily sighted flapping their wings in the sky of Bhutan. The Himalayan Kingdom has also become a humble abode for the Beautiful Nuthatch, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Yellow-vented Warbler, White-naped Yuhina- yet another vulnerable species that can be easily spotted in its huge precinct. On a typical day, this mountain wonderland is graced by the presence of some of the most spectacular pheasants on this planet such as Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, which seem to allure people through their colorful plumage, heavy tails, and gorgeous crests. However the beauty seem to touch new heights when one lays eyes on the beautiful flocks of Grandalas either roosting on green trees or foraging on the carpet of grasses.

Spring is the time when this magical country cast spells on birdwatchers and wildlife  photographers by unveiling the captivating world of several birds who are on the brink of extinction in several parts of the world but leading an unperturbed life in this region of the planet. With over 670 species of birds have been recorded and many more are yet to be discovered including the endangered Imperial Heron, Black-Necked Cranes, thrushes, buntings, finches, every bird of Bhutan leaves a lasting memory on a birdwatcher’s mind through its majestic and exotic appearance.

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Tiger Trails of India

Tiger is one species that has always managed to startled people through its valiant presence in the jungles. Wrapped in its signature orange fur and black stripes, Tiger is the epitome of beauty, royalty, and supremacy. Its sudden thunderous roar is enough to send a wave of tremor in the forest. There was a time when the turf of these majestic cats stretched from the swathes of Iran to the mountainous terrain of Russia. But the ceaseless loss of habitation has taken a toll on tigers resulting in the extinction of many of their sub-species including Caspian Tigers, Javan Tigers, Bali Tigers and confining the remaining sub-species to the scattered pockets of East and South East Asian Countries. India is one such nation that has gained global recognition for having the highest concentration of Bengal Tigers. From mangrove jungle to riverine sanctuaries and deciduous national parks, there is hardly any forest left in India which does not illustrate the valor of these wild cats.

The vast grasslands of Bandhavgarh National Park was once a formidable kingdom of Charger and Sita - The second most photographed tigers in the world. While Sita was regarded as the goddess of yesteryears, Charger was known to bear an unusually aggressive temperament towards Tourists, Jeep Safaris and Elephants, one major reason why he was anointed with such a peculiar name. They were very compassionate about each other, not only would they share their kill they would also guard their territory against other big cats. Today the forest is ruled by the progeny of these magnificent cats.

251 km from Bandhavgarh lies yet another exalting kingdom of Big Cats. Surrounded by the Sal forest, Savannah grassland, and meandering rivers, Kanha National Park is a designated wildlife Sanctuary globally renowned for protecting the habitat of Bengal Tigers and other wildlife. While traversing the park there are very high chances to come across Kanha's beloved tiger 'Munna'. He is famously identified with the letters C A T spelled on his forehead. His preference to walk along the dirt track to his comfort has influenced Kanha's famous adage 'Road hi Road'. Besides Munna, the park also offer fleeting glimpse of the other bold and demeanor tigers including Bheema, Nak-kata, Neelam and many more.

Pench National Park completes the circle of the spectacular tiger circuit of Central India. Spread across the Satpura region, the park rose to fame for inspiring the backdrop of Rudyard Kipling's popular book 'The Jungle Book'. With an array of mammals and birds can be spotted in its grassy patches and shrub cover, the place also gives you an insight into the secret life of Collarwali- the queen of Pench forest. As a cub, she was regularly spotted with her non-collard mother Barimada. The tigress is popular for the unique hunting skills she employs while preying. Recognized through her natural collars on which she is named, Collarwali is also famous amongst the wildlife enthusiasts for giving birth to the 'Famous Five'.

With an intent to show the extraordinary lifestyle of these majestic cats, Asian Adventure has meticulously handcrafted a unique tiger tour commencing at Bandhavgarh NationalPark and culminating at Pench Tiger Reserve. Led by a team of knowledgeable naturalists the journey will surely leave a lasting impact on your mind and you will come home laden with a great photo album.

Phone: +918010450000
Email: info@asianadventures.in
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Gujarat Birds & Mammals Trip Report

Located on the west coast, Gujarat is a colorful state that is responsible for almost 60% of economic activities in India. But there is also a surprisingly large range of birds and mammals that call the state its home.

We created an exclusive itinerary with the objective of providing a feast of avian and mammal delight. We commenced this eventful tour in mid autumn when the place was bursting with spectacular birding sights. The tour included places which have garnered their names in the field of birdwatching & photography.  After the arrival of our guests at Ahmedabad Airport, we escorted them to Narayani Heritage - a family run heritage property in Bhavnagar. While we geared up for the next day tour arrangements, for our guests the rest of the day was at leisure so that they could familiarize themselves with the surroundings.

Next morning, we headed towards Velavadar National Park, the first stopover of the trip. The park rose to fame for supporting the highest population of Blackbucks across the world. That's why the park is also commonly referred to as Blackbuck National Park. 

The day was pleasant, as we began to unfold the forest we came in touch with the large fields of grasslands which were dancing to the beat of the soft breeze. We were moving slowly alongside the dense grassland fields on each side when we spotted a herd of blackbucks frolicking in the field.

There were around six to seven females who were playing with barely a month-old baby calf. As we moved further we saw a juvenile male blackbuck leaping in the air and also witnessed the rage of two adult blackbucks who had locked their long spiraling horns. After getting spectacular views of this Antelope we headed to search for the harriers.

 Although the park has a rich birdlife, the overwhelming population of harriers has earned it the name of being the largest roosting site of harriers. We managed to see birds like the Long-legged buzzard, Eurasian sparrowhawk, Peregrine falcon and Red-necked Falcon. While we were busy catching glimpses of various raptors, one of our guests caught hold of the strange activity going on beneath the grass. As we approached closer we saw a pack of Indian wolves pecking on a kill. It was a rare sight to behold, Indian Wolf is an endangered species seen as the apex predator in the grassland after the extinction of 'Asiatic Cheetah'. We stayed there for quite some time before making our way back to the hotel.

Next morning, we made our journey to Gir National Park the world-renowned wildlife sanctuary known to be the last bastion of Asiatic lions. It was approximately four hours' drive from Velavadar 

National Park to Gir National Park. On arrival we checked in at Gir Birding Lodge, the proximity of the lodge with the park is one of the reasons we always make our reservations here whenever we visit the national park. We gave our guests some time to relax before going out for the afternoon jeep safari. We managed to see several birds such as Pied Kingfisher, White Throated Kingfisher, Oriental White-eye, Black Drongo, Oriental Magpie, Rufous treepie and many more in the vicinity of the lodge itself. It was a good indication of the rich birdlife resting in the thorn scrub forest of Gir.

During the safari, we couldn't detect any mammal moment but we were successful in spotting the roosting ground of Barred buttonquail and Sandgrouse. While returning back to our lodge we saw a congregation of Green bee-eaters huddling together in one of the trees. Gir is also a perfect place for Sykes's Nightjars, we could spot them in huge numbers in the night. Next morning, we gathered in the reception area for our morning jeep safari. Gir National Park is a blend of dry deciduous forest and savannah grassland providing a perfect ecosystem to support several endangered species. As we advanced deep inside the forest we saw a Striped hyena from the distance before it disappeared in the large grassland. Besides the Asiatic Lions, Striped hyena is one of the species that can be only spotted in India perhaps one of the reasons for its popularity amongst the wildlife enthusiasts. We continued with our journey where we got the opportunity to spot many mammals such as a Jungle Cat, Desert Cat, Wild Boar, Nilgai, Golden Jackal but there was no sign of Asiatic Lions. Following our lunch, we resumed our safari in search of this majestic feline. We drove for a few hours when we were stopped by a pride crossing the road. The pride consisted of three lionesses, one lion, and 2 cubs. The guests couldn’t stop taking pictures of this adorable sight.

Next day, we headed towards Jamnagar, another popular birding destination which is just 229 km from Gir. We reached the place by afternoon, checked in the Hotel President. After resting for a while, we went out for a short city tour exploring the market, monuments, and the eatery section. Located near the coastal areas, Jamnagar is a vantage point to observe birdlife thriving in the region. The following morning, we headed towards Marine National Park a preferred destination for the Waders assemblage. While making our way inside the forest we could easily spot birds like the Lesser sand plover, Greater sand plover, Red-necked Stint, Typical plovers, Kentish Plover, Common ringed plover, Caspian Gull, Terns, Crab plovers and many more. One cute act of nature that caught our eyes, in particular, was when we saw how affectionately the mother Oystercatcher was tending to her chick. After completing our birdwatching in Marine National Park, we proceeded towards the famous Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary. Spreading across 34 sq km, the national park is one of its kind having both fresh and saltwater lakes and marshlands. As we started exploring the forest we got spectacular views of waterfowl such as Common Teal, Northern pintail, Northern shoveler, Eurasian wigeon resting in the water bodies of the park. We also got a fantastic sighting of Indian skimmer, Indian courser, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Grey Francolin, Little Tern, Black-tailed godwit, Knob-billed Duck, Black-necked stork and Sykes's lark. 

After the completion of the successful bird watching in Jamnagar, we headed towards Bhuj also known as Greater Rann of Kutch. It took us approximately four to five hours to reach Bhuj where we had our lunch before going for a half day birding tour in Fulay.  

Fulay is a small village in the Kutch district that has gained popularity amongst the birdwatchers for being a healthy ecosystem for several birds wintering in Gujarat. We went there to track down the rare Grey Hypocolius who are frequently sighted in this region of Gujarat during winter. We started our journey in the arable land of Fulay, where we got wonderful sightings of Painted Sandgrouse & Greater painted-snipe. As we further penetrated the field we saw a couple of Striolated buntings and Grey-necked bunting who were busy drinking from the waterhole. After traveling for a few kilometers, we got the pleasure to spot Grey Hypocolius who was perching on a Salvadora persica tree, and this brought an end to our day in Fulay village.  

Next morning, we headed towards Mandvi, a small municipal town in Kutch district. It took us approximately one and a half hours to reach the place. As we started walking along the coast of the Arabian sea, we got spectacular views of loads of seabirds and waders nesting in the expanse such as Eurasian Curlew, Crab-plover, Grey plover, Great Knot, Red knot, Oystercatchers, Black Ibis, Red Wattled Lapwing, Black Winged Stilts, Indian Reef Heron, Cormorants, Pond Heron. 

After having a great time in Greater Rann of Kutch we proceeded towards Little Rann of Kutch our next and last stopover of the tour. It took us seven hours drive from Bhuj to reach the place which is eulogized of being the largest wetland in India and an important Ramsar wetland site.  The little Rann of Kutch is an ancient seabed turned by geological forces into saline desert plains, the Rann has grassy patches that offer ideal ground for birdwatching.

We commenced our birding early morning driving to the elevated patches covered with scrubs and grasses. We parked our car and walked in the region for sometime when we spotted MacQueen's bustard from the distance moving near we were able to sight two to three MacQueen's bustard behind the grass. Moving further we saw White-eyed Buzzard and  Bonneli eagle perching on their respective trees. We also got a wonderful image of Long-legged buzzard flying above. We moved further towards the Salt Lake when accidentally stumbled upon a Short-toed snake eagle crossing sword with a Greater black krait. On arriving at Nawa Talao we saw beautiful colonies of several migratory birds settled in its expanse. We got a wonderful opportunity to sight birds like Lesser Flamingos, Greater Flamingoes, Demoiselle cranes, Comb Ducks, Brahminy Ducks, Pochards, Pygmy Geese, While pelicans, Spot-billed Pelican, Common Teals, Mallards, Gadwalls, Tufted ducks, Lesser whistling ducks, Cotton and pygmy geese.

Recommended Stay  in Sasan Gir National Park - The Gir Birding Lodge. The Best Wildlife Lodge for Families interested in wildlife, Photographers, Birdwatchers, and Solo Travelers.

Phone: +918010450000
Email: info@asianadventures.in
https://linktr.ee/aatoursandlodges